Journal Reflections Module 2:TPACK

Reflection Prompt:
How the artifacts in your pre-competencies verification reflect your technology use as an educator? In light of your learning about TPACK, identify areas of improvement needed.

Description:

This week was about TPACK (Technological Pedagogical Assessment Content Knowledge). The Handbook of TPACK talked about students being to experience the real world through technology and not just try to reproduce it in school. This allow us to create authentic experiences. Primary sources became available for student use but that the strategies were still being developed.Every area of study has its own strategies that match its content and sstandards. Technology is added to enhance the topics. The chapter on applying TPACK in Social Studies,referred to students being able to use data and information in preparation for being a citizen of tomorrow. Since Social Studies encompasses many areas, the student can become aware of resources to facilitate participation in the world at many levels. Everything covered the fact that quality instructional technology tools are well designed, developed appropriately for students, and are tied to content standards.
The Pre-competency Verification form allowed me the opportunity to review each area and to see what I have done that fits the criteria. In doing so, I realized what skills I could explore more in depth while still improving the others. In order to help teachers in their content areas, I need to establish a more collaborative work environment. I am not the expert in the content and pedagogy of the subject matter but I can help guide them in determining which technology will be the most effective.

Impact:

I realized that I need to establish a stronger collaborative work environment. This allows for us as a team to utilize everyones strength in the content area or in pedagogy,strategies. So, that once the goals are established based on content standards and the way to assess the students mastery levels are established, we can investigate the best way to present the information to the student technologically. The student can also determine the best way for them to present what they know. This would make for a more unified approach to planning that would be more effective. I can include this in my lessons or presentations to the teachers. The material talks about using TPACK as a real world experience which leads to projects. The students have always enjoyed connecting with the real world. The technology available today allows for more connections to experts, museums and primary resources, or even to open discussions with peers. These allow for students to be comfortalbe with resources and the way to best use these resources. The reading material refers to the gap and how schools need to provide access. I see this as a goal in my schools. Our students don't have the exposure that other students have as they access technology in their earlier years. Technology can bridge educational achievement and social gaps by having schools find ways to get the students access while in school or through local libraries. It's not enough to know the technology but we also have to know the best use of it and which technology resource to fits the questions of what and why. This makes the most sense in many classes especially past middle school where the teachers are expertsin their fields. The technology choice or selection is one of the five instructional decisions being made everyday. Students really get into project based learning or real world based lessons. When I did things like 'Menu Math' or writing for materials from states to use in designing their own brochures', the students were engaged and because I made sure of the content standards and how to assess them, I knew that they learned what was required by the state. Now I will make sure that the students will know which technology tools and resources use for their project. I always presented it to them in the past and never had them make a choice on the technology even though they could decide on the topic. This gives total control to the student andi can facilitate.

INTENT:

I will continue to establish collaborative meetings. The teachers will provide the content to match the core and the assessment.Then we will look into the possible technology tools and resources that could enhance their lessons. The next step is to give the students the choice of what resources they will use and how they will deliver their newly learned knowledge. Ineed to really think through how to impart the technology piece that relates to content, knowledge, and pedagogy. My challenge will be in making sure that I understand the content and the pedagogy that the teacher is incorporating so that I can offer ideas about the technology that will best fit their plan. I can use the lessons already posted to the core and see what technologies are already incorporated. This will give me a basisof understanding the entire lesson. Then I will make some additional suggestions of resources or technology and get teachers feedback.